Legislation could place limits on police using public DNA databases

New legislation could place limits on how police in Utah can access public DNA databases as they try to solve cold cases.

A new proposal from Republican State Representative Craig Hall would prevent investigators from searching databases from companies like 23andMe if they do not have an identifiable suspect beforehand.

Critics of the bill note that investigators use those databases specifically because they do not have a suspect in a case.

The Utah Chiefs of Police Association also worries it could restrict using family DNA in any sort of investigation.